Number #73
NFL’s Lawrence Guy Showers NICU Moms with Love for Mothers’ Day
Featured Focus:
Athlete-Driven Impact, Community Engagement, Health & Wellness
Scope of Impact: Local
W|W TIP-OFF: In honor of Mother’s Day, Super Bowl Champion and NFL tackle Lawrence Guy and his wife Andrea, founders of the Lawrence Guy Family Foundation (LGFF), are partnering with the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital NICU to host their 3rd annual LGFF Baby Shower Bash on May 8, 2025. We got the Tip-Off before the event, so you can get the full scoop here:
Personal inspiration: In 2023, Lawrence and Andrea’s son, Jaxson, was born prematurely, and admitted to the South Florida hospital’s NICU on Mother’s Day Weekend. While the family was there, they gave flowers to 75 other moms in the unit, providing a little bit of joy in a challenging time.
Meaningful partnerships: For the 2025 event, 30 NICU moms will experience a love-filled day complete with a brunch buffet, pampering experiences, and a full suite of essential baby supplies gifted from brand partners, including Chicco, Honest, Gerber, and Wubbanub.
A legacy of giving: Beyond the Baby Shower Bash, Guy and the LGFF are deeply immersed in supporting local communities, with year-round efforts in Las Vegas, Boston, Cincinnati, and South Florida. Because of his dedication, Guy was selected as the Patriots 2022 nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.
(There’s no original story link for this one, since it’s an advanced Tip-Off!)
If you’re looking for warm fuzzies from a sports philanthropy story, this hits all the high notes. Lawrence and Andrea drew from their own experience in the NICU to help support other moms going through similar challenges.
Their personal connection to this issue — and courage that it takes to speak publicly about such a scary time in their lives — makes this all the more meaningful.
Of course, what we love even more than the Baby Shower Bash itself is the Guy family’s commitment to supporting their community year-round. Their foundation typically hosts four annual events, including “Thanksgiving with the Guys,” where 200 families get meals to help celebrate the holiday, and a holiday shopping spree where kids facing economic challenges get to enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience.
By not just creating one-off events, but being a consistent presence year after year, GLFF is building long-term impact and connections that’ll reach far beyond Lawrence’s days on the field.
YOUR NEXT PLAY:
We’ve written before about how important it is for teams, athletes, and brands to have a genuine connection with the causes or issues they’re championing. Sometimes it’s easy to find those sparks, especially when they’re inspired by a major life-altering event, like in the Guy family’s NICU experience. Other times, it might take a bit more discovery to find the most meaningful fit.
The next time you’re thinking about where to channel your efforts, see if you can peel back a few more layers to uncover a hidden story or moment that you may have otherwise overlooked. Sometimes the best initiatives come from unexpected places, and can create more impact than you’d think.
Established in 2019, the LGFF offers a range of impactful programs designed to uplift and inspire underserved families to reach their full potential.
Official website for one of South Florida’s leading pediatric hospitals, offering everything from minor illness treatment to complex, trauma-related care.
The long-time NFL player and Walter Payton Award nominee talks about how his learning challenges as a kid helped shape who he is today.
The league’s various efforts to serve and support communities in their teams’ hometowns and across the country.
A program from nonprofit Athletes for Hope, which connects collegiate, pro, Olympic, and Paralympic athletes to children’s hospitals around the US.
A wealth manager’s guide for professional athletes thinking about starting a foundation, including definitions, considerations, and the steps to make it happen.
